Evidence of alcohol use in incident that left baby trapped underwater

MINNETRISTA, Minn. - Hennepin County Sheriff Rick Stanek says there are "indications that there was alcohol involved" in the incident that left a baby trapped in a car underwater for fifteen minutes.

Stanek says the father, identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Markle, was driving his family home from a restaurant Friday night when their car broke through the ice on Halstead's Bay. The mother, Amanda Markle, and 2-year-old Isabelle were able to get out of the car and to safety. Jonathan Markle stayed and tried to rescue 9-month-old Tabitha, who was strapped in her carseat.

Emergency crews arrived on scene and helped the father get out of the water. Two Mound firefighters wearing protective suits went underwater and cut the straps of the carseat to get to the baby. Authorities believe Tabitha was underwater for at least fifteen minutes.

Stanek says the father underwent a blood test and the results are pending.

The mother, father and 2-year-old child were treated for hypothermia and released from a local hospital. The baby is currently in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.

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